Breadcrumb trail

CNSC Executive Committee Members

President and CEO

One member of the Commission is designated as the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s (CNSC’s) President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This position is currently held by Dr. Michael Binder. Read more about Dr. Michael Binder.

Regulatory Operations Branch

Ramzi Jammal has worked for the CNSC since 1998, holding progressively senior positions. He has accumulated over 20 years of experience in the nuclear industry, combining management skills with scientific expertise, and representing the CNSC in various international activities. These include the development and establishment of the IAEA Code of Conduct for the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources, and the international categorization of radioactive sources. He also played a key role in ensuring that the recommendations of the International Commission on Radiation Protection complemented the CNSC's regulatory needs.

Prior to joining the CNSC, Mr. Jammal was the Technical Manager of the Department of Radiological Sciences Nuclear Medicine Division at the Ottawa Hospital's Civic Campus. Under his leadership, the department became the first filmless nuclear medicine department in Canada.

He has received several academic awards, including the North American Society of Nuclear Medicine’s First Place Award for new scientific advancements in nuclear medicine.

Peter Elder, A/Vice-President and Chief Science Officer

Technical Support Branch

Peter Elder has been working for the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission for over 20 years in various regulatory roles covering the entire nuclear fuel cycle. He started as a technical specialist in 1996 as a fuel performance and safety analyst, and moved on to become a project manager in power reactor licensing. He has also occupied a variety of management roles throughout his career at the CNSC. He has experience in all areas of the organization’s mandate: safety, security, safeguards and environmental protection. He has also served as a nuclear counsellor at the Permanent Mission to the International Organizations in Vienna. In this role, he advised the Canadian government on International Atomic Energy Agency activities in nuclear safety and security, emergency management and technical cooperation.

Before joining the CNSC, he worked for Atomic Energy Canada Limited as a section head and research scientist in the area of high-temperature fuel behaviour and fission product release. He co-authored a number of scientific papers during this period on fuel behaviour under accident conditions, and was involved in several international collaborations in this area.

He completed a Master's in Materials Engineering from Queen’s University following his undergraduate degree in Engineering Science (Physics Option) from the University of Toronto. He was appointed acting Vice-President of the CNSC’s Technical Support Branch in April 2017.

Jason Cameron, Vice-President and Chief Communications Officer

Regulatory Affairs Branch

Jason Cameron
Vice-President and Chief Communications Officer

Jason Cameron became Vice-President and Chief Communications Officer, Regulatory Affairs Branch, on May 31, 2013, where he leads the CNSC's strategic policy, communications and regulatory framework initiatives. He has dedicated the past two decades of his career to nuclear issues, regulatory policy and international relations.

He joined the Atomic Energy Control Board of Canada (the CNSC’'s predecessor) in 1998 as a Safeguards Officer. Over the next 15 years, he assumed progressively senior roles including Chief of Staff, Secretary to the Management Committee, Head of Evaluation, and – most recently – Director General of Strategic Planning. In this capacity, he led the CNSC's planning and reporting processes and managed the coordination of intergovernmental, international and Aboriginal relations.

Before joining the Government of Canada, he was a Visiting Information Officer with the World Nuclear Association (then known as the Uranium Institute), based in London, England. Here, he was responsible for analyzing the impact of strengthened import/export controls on the international nuclear industry.

He completed his post-graduate Master’s degree in international relations and his Bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of Calgary.

Stéphane Cyr, Vice-President andChief Financial Officer

Corporate Services Branch

Stéphane Cyr
Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer

Stéphane Cyr joined the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission in 2009 as Director General, Finance and Administration, and has led a number of major initiatives and projects, including the establishment of a financial framework, an accommodation fit‑up strategy, and support for the regulatory program with respect to financial guarantees.

From 2006 to 2009, Stéphane developed his skills at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), where he held the position of Director General, Basic Research Knowledge Creation Program, and later Director General, Finance and Corporate Planning.

From 2004 to 2007, Stéphane served as Executive Director, Financial Management Services, at Human Resources and Social Development Canada. Prior to that, he worked at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency as Director, Accounting and Financial Systems, where he was in charge of projects such as the implementation of the financial and reporting system and the conversion to accrual accounting.

He began his career at the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), where he held several accounting and financial policy positions.

In 2010, Stéphane graduated from the public service’s Accelerated Executive Development Program.

Stéphane is a member of the Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec and the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada.

Lisa Thiele, Senior General Counsel

Legal Services

Lisa Thiele
Senior General Counsel

Lisa Thiele joined the CNSC in 2004 with extensive career experience in administrative law at other federal quasi-judicial administrative tribunals. Prior to joining the CNSC, she worked with the RCMP External Review Committee, the Canadian Forces Grievance Board, and the Canadian Judicial Council, following a clerkship at the Federal Court of Canada.

As Senior General Counsel, Ms. Thiele leads a dedicated team delivering legal advice and litigation services. She acts as Commission counsel in regular public hearings and meetings across Canada.

Ms. Thiele is a regular contributor to the OECD/NEA Nuclear Law Bulletin, and is involved in the International Nuclear Law Association, as well as serving on the Board of Directors of its Canadian branch, the Canadian Nuclear Law Organization. She has been on the faculty of the IAEA’s Nuclear Law Institute since its inception in 2011, and regularly lectures at the International School of Nuclear Law, a yearly diploma program offered at the Université de Montpellier in France. She also supports the Council of Canadian Administrative Tribunals’ tribunal member training program by lecturing on the conduct of a quasi-judicial hearing and evidence in administrative law proceedings.

Marc Leblanc, Commission Secretary

Commission Secretary

Marc Leblanc

Marc Leblanc has been Commission Secretary since October 2001, and is a member of the CNSC’s Executive Committee, Management Committee and Audit Committee. He is the CNSC’s Official Languages Champion, as well as the Informal Conflict Management System Champion. He is currently on the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee (Treasurer) of the Council of Canadian Administrative Tribunals. Member of the Barreau du Québec since 1982 and with more than 32 years of experience in the public service in administrative and business law, Mr. Leblanc previously occupied legislative policy and senior management positions at Industry Canada. His last position at Industry Canada was Director, Incorporation and Disclosure Services Branch.

Mr. Leblanc received a Licence en droit degree and a Graduate Studies Diploma from the University of Ottawa, for which he obtained the Prix de l’Ambassade de France. He has been teaching corporate and securities law at the University of Ottawa for over two decades, and has been very involved with the École du Barreau du Québec in the business law sector for more than 15 years.